Open banking payment solutions are being rapidly adopted across UK-licensed online casino and sports betting operators, according to a Q1 2026 industry report. The technology — which allows players to authorise instant bank-to-casino transfers without entering card details — has seen significant volume growth driven by both player preference and the post-UKGC credit card ban environment.
What Is Open Banking?
Open banking is a financial framework that allows regulated third parties (in this context, payment providers) to access a customer's bank account — with explicit authorisation — to initiate transactions. In practice, when a player selects an open banking option at a casino, they are redirected to their bank's secure app or website where they authenticate the transaction directly. No card details are required.
This differs from traditional card payments, where the player enters card details that are transmitted to the merchant. Open banking transactions use bank-grade security throughout and are protected by the player's banking institution's fraud detection systems.
Key Providers in the Casino Market
Three providers dominate the open banking gambling payments segment in the UK:
- Trustly — the largest and most widely deployed open banking solution in European gambling, with significant UK market share. Deposits and withdrawals are processed via Trustly's Pay N Play infrastructure, which also allows frictionless KYC at some operators.
- Volt — a newer entrant that has been growing its gambling operator client base, with strong coverage of UK high street banks.
- TrueLayer — a UK-headquartered open banking infrastructure provider increasingly used by regulated operators for both deposits and identity verification.
Why the Adoption Has Accelerated
The April 2020 UKGC ban on credit card gambling deposits removed the most common high-risk payment method from the market. This, combined with friction introduced by some UK banks blocking gambling debit card transactions, has pushed both operators and players toward open banking as a reliable, instant deposit alternative.
Withdrawals are also a key driver of adoption — open banking withdrawals typically complete within minutes, compared to 1–3 business days for card withdrawals at many operators.
For Players: Advantages and Considerations
Open banking deposits are generally instant, have no fees at the player level, and are protected by your bank's fraud systems. However, because they link directly to your bank account, they bypass spending controls that some debit card issuers provide. Players who want to use bank-level gambling blocking should consider activating their bank's gambling block (available at most UK high street banks) independently of the payment method used.
Published: January 22, 2026 · Category: Casino News